It was a leisurely afternoon.

In front of Calliphe’s annex, the rabbit-eared capybara that had become a familiar sight lazily rolled around.

It watched two boys practicing swordsmanship in preparation for the martial arts competition at the Harvest Festival.

Just then, Imelen’s ears perked up.

“Ang?”

A group of dazzlingly well-dressed people approached Calliphe’s annex with an imposing air.

Soon, a girl with intense red hair stepped out of a luxurious carriage.

“Pwetty…”

Imelen gazed at the girl, Lucilia, appearing enchanted. At that moment, Lucilia frowned upon seeing the capybara.

“Hmm? Does Lady Offensa raise pigs too?”

“…!”

While Noah and Mihail hurriedly checked Imelen’s expression.

“…Grrrr.”

The normally gentle Imelen’s eyes now blazed with fury.

* * *

“I present to you the Crown Princess, the small sun of the Empire.”

I bowed respectfully along with my servants.

Since Lynen’s people had been keeping watch near the imperial palace, I already knew that the Crown Princess was heading here.

‘That’s why I sent Lynen away.’

I had removed someone the Crown Princess might rely on.

Since Crown Princess Lucilia possessed strong pride, bowing her head would be her last resort. So it was better to eliminate any other options she might have right in front of her.

Lucilia, who had visited unexpectedly, looked around my annex and said arrogantly:

“What a ‘quaint’ and ‘modest’ place this is. Is that why it was difficult for you to come to the imperial palace?”

“Hoho. Is that so? It’s all improved since Lynen put his hand to it.”

Yes, that’s the handiwork of Your Highness’s loyal subject.

Lucilia appeared slightly taken aback.

“I-is that so? No wonder I thought it had a notably austere beauty…”

Ding!

[Filial Piety Quest has arrived!]

[To think that strange girl was the Crown Princess…! On behalf of the shocked Noah, make the Crown Princess acknowledge your skills.

Condition: Lucilia’s affection 30 or higher]

[Reward: Filial Piety 5]

[Current Filial Piety: 33]

Glancing at Noah beside me, I could see he had quite an indignant expression.

‘I was already working on the Crown Princess’s affection quest. It’s good for me if I can do two quests at once.’

Lucilia’s affection status also appeared.

[Lucilia: ♥ -10/100]

Oh, worse than strangers.

But I decided not to worry about each point of affection right now.

Even if my immediate affection score takes a hit, if I can get the Crown Princess to accept me, there will be plenty of opportunities to make up for it later.

“Please come inside. I’ve prepared some light refreshments for Your Highness, humble though they may be.”

“No, I’m not here for leisure.”

As Lucilia spoke firmly, an attendant behind her stepped forward on cue.

What the attendant presented was a single shoe placed on a soft cushion.

Lucilia said:

“Noah. That’s the name of the child you’re sponsoring, correct? He left this in my greenhouse.”

“Ah… I apologize. To think we caused such an esteemed person to come all this way for such a matter.”

I already knew what Lynen and Noah had experienced at the imperial palace from what they had told me.

So I had anticipated that the Crown Princess would use the shoe as an excuse to visit.

‘Just as I thought. Even after confirming my skills through the vision orb, she still doesn’t want to humble herself before me.’

Lucilia, despite being shorter than me, spoke while looking down on me.

“Well, the boy was so impertinent that I became curious about his guardian’s face.”

“I apologize.”

“Besides, that little one claimed that you could turn a griffin into a gentle lamb in just 30 minutes.”

Undisguisable emotion flashed in Lucilia’s gray eyes. A look that said, ‘Let’s see if that’s true.’

“Now that I’m here, I’d like to see that skill with my own eyes.”

This was exactly what I had been waiting for.

‘But I can’t agree too easily.’

Simply demonstrating on my own would be no different than showing the vision orb again. It would take too long to win over the Crown Princess’s heart.

So I needed to make the Crown Princess set aside some of her dignity and agree to my conditions.

I lowered my eyelashes slightly, displaying an unmistakable air of embarrassment.

“I’m embarrassed. That’s just my fiancé and the child exaggerating my abilities. I don’t have skills worthy of showing to Your Highness.”

As I humbly declined, Lucilia’s expression soured.

[Lucilia: ♥ -11/100]

“Are you saying the child dared to lie to me?”

“In truth, I’ve never timed it precisely. But it didn’t take long, so the child probably thought it took about that much time.”

I don’t know if it’s a lie or not. But it definitely didn’t take long.

At my ambiguous response, Lucilia grew slightly frustrated.

“I saw it through Duke Ortega’s vision orb. You handled the griffin very skillfully. I’m giving you a chance to show off your skills. Right here and now.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. That time I just happened to perform well, so I cannot guarantee I can show the same skill now. I would rather be humble than face humiliation in front of Your Highness whom I respect.”

Lucilia seemed to be trying hard to contain her anger.

[Lucilia: ♥ -15/100]

“There’s no need to lower yourself so much. Handling a top-tier magical beast like a griffin is extremely difficult.”

“But to demonstrate my skills before Your Highness, how could I do it halfheartedly? Moreover, merely watching from below won’t truly convey the skill. The charm of riding a griffin can only be understood by the rider.”

“Are you saying I don’t understand griffins?!”

[Lucilia: ♥ -30/100]

Lucilia’s face turned red. Perhaps due to her young age, she struggled with controlling her emotions.

But befitting a Crown Princess, Lucilia quickly calmed her excitement.

She also saw through my reason for dragging out the conversation.

Grinding her teeth, she said:

“I am very well aware that griffin riding is a rare sight. You dare provoke me, which means you clearly want something. Speak! What reward do you want?”

Phase one complete.

I smiled brightly and said:

“Since Your Highness knows griffins so well, I have one request.”

“…”

“While I ride the griffin, I request that Your Highness sit in front of me.”

“What? You want me to sit in front of you?”

Lucilia’s eyes widened in surprise. At the same time, the Crown Princess’s attendants immediately objected.

“That cannot be, Your Highness! For the Crown Princess to sit in front of a lady who isn’t even a knight! Please maintain your dignity.”

“Moreover, griffins are dangerous magical beasts. When Lady Offensa’s skills haven’t even been proven, what trust is there to fly together? It’s extremely dangerous!”

“Enough.”

Lucilia raised her hand to silence them. Her cold gray eyes looked at me.

“So this was why you were acting uncharacteristically humble. Very well. Let’s see your skills.”

“Thank you.”

“However, if your skills fail to meet my expectations, you will pay the price for daring to trifle with the Crown Princess.”

At the ominous warning, I simply smiled silently.

‘And if they exceed your expectations?’

Our positions would be reversed.

“Then, without delay, I shall escort you right away.”

Let’s give you a fancy driving lesson, Your Highness.